Fitness network system

• US 20070033069A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Sriram, Padmanabhan, Ramanath, Rao, Rajendra, Indoliya, Deepak
• Application Number:
  US11/247,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/305 Remote servicing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

Systems and methods to implement a fitness network system are disclosed. A disclosed example system includes a first data terminal operatively coupled to an exercise machine. The first data terminal is configured to obtain fitness information associated with a fitness member from the exercise machine. The example system also includes a personal digital assistant wirelessly communicatively coupled to the first data terminal via a network. The first data terminal is configured to communicate a first message to the personal digital assistant based on the fitness information. The personal digital assistant enables a fitness trainer to communicate a message to the fitness member based on the first message.

Claims

1. A system for interacting with a fitness professional, comprising:

a first data terminal operatively coupled to an exercise machine and configured to obtain fitness information from the exercise machine, wherein the fitness information is associated with a user; and

a portable data device wirelessly communicatively coupled to the first data terminal via a network, the first data terminal configured to communicate a first message to the portable data device based on the fitness information, and wherein the portable data device enables the fitness professional to communicate a second message to the user based on the first message.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first data terminal and the portable data device are located within a fitness area.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein the fitness area is a fitness club.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the fitness professional is at least one of a fitness trainer, a physical therapist, or a physician.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the user is at least one of a fitness club member or a physical therapy patient.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the second message is an electronic mail message.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first data terminal is configured to communicate to the portable data device a message indicative of the presence of the user within a fitness area.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first data terminal is communicatively coupled to at least one wireless biometric sensor and configured to obtain physiological information associated with the user.

9. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the wireless biometric sensor is configured to be worn by the user.

10. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a database communicatively coupled to at least one of the first data terminal and the portable data device and configured to store member profile information associated with the user.

11. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of the first data terminal and the portable data device is configured to obtain at least some of the member profile information from the database, and wherein the portable data device enables the fitness professional to communicate the second message based on the member profile information.

12. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein the member profile information includes attendance history information.

13. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein the member profile information includes fitness progress information.

14. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the portable data device is configured to communicate motivation information to the user.

15. A system as defined in claim 14, wherein the motivation information indicates a level of motivation associated with the user.

16. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first data terminal is configured to be communicatively coupled to a radio frequency identification device associated with the user.

17. A system for accessing fitness information, comprising:

a first information device communicatively coupled to an exercise machine and a network, and configured to obtain threshold physiological information associated with a user, the first information device further configured to obtain measured physiological information associated with the user and compare the threshold and measured physiological information; and

a second information device communicatively coupled to the network and configured to exchange information with the first information device via the network, wherein the first information device is configured to communicate a message to the second information device based on the comparison of the threshold and measured physiological information.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the first information device obtains the threshold physiological information from a server communicatively coupled to the network.

19. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the second information device is a personal digital assistant.

20. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the first information device is configured to communicate the measured physiological information to the second information device.

21. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the message is indicative of user performance based on the comparison of the threshold and measured physiological information.

22. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the second information device is configured to communicate a motivational message to the user based on the message.

23. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the second information device is configured to communicate an electronic message to the user associated with the message and indicative of guidelines to modify a workout schedule.

24. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the first information device is configured to communicate with a radio frequency identification device, and wherein the first information device obtains a member identification associated with the user from the radio frequency identification device.

25. An apparatus for providing membership-based privileges associated with an exercise device, comprising:

a data communication interface communicatively coupled to an exercise device and a network, wherein the data communication interface is configured to obtain via the network a privilege level associated with a membership identification code; and

an exercise device controller communicatively coupled to the data communication interface and configured to cause the exercise device to operate in a restrictive mode based on the privilege level, wherein the restrictive mode enables partial configurability of the exercise device.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein a server communicatively coupled to the network selects the privilege level based on at least one of a membership attendance, a membership category, or a membership cost.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the restrictive mode enables the exercise device to operate in a time-limited mode.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the exercise device is a stationary exercise machine.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein the data communication interface is configured to obtain the membership identification code from a radio frequency identification device.

30. A system for monitoring a condition of a fitness machine, comprising:

a server communicatively coupled to a network and configured to obtain information associated with a condition of a fitness machine, wherein the server is associated with a fitness machine maintenance program; and

a data terminal operatively coupled to the fitness machine and communicatively coupled to the network, wherein the data terminal is configured to assess the condition of the fitness machine and generate maintenance request messages based on the condition of the fitness machine

31. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein the data terminal is configured to communicate the maintenance request messages to the server.

32. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein the server is configured to communicate queries associated with the condition of the fitness machine to the data terminal.

33. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein the server is configured to generate a maintenance history data structure associated with a plurality of previous maintenance request messages.

34. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein the data terminal is configured to detect improper usage of the fitness machine and communicate a message associated with the improper usage to the server.

35. A system as defined in claim 30, wherein the data terminal is configured to detect operation errors associated with the fitness machine.